Early detection emphasised as Tullamore hospital marks World Kidney Day
The Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore is marking World Kidney Day today (Thursday) by hosting a local awareness event to support early detection and improve understanding of chronic kidney disease among patients, visitors, and staff.
The HSE’s National Renal Office said sustainable kidney care is increasingly being delivered closer to home, with more than 115,000 home‑based dialysis treatments recorded nationally in 2025.
For patients who do progress to kidney failure, renal replacement therapy, such as dialysis or kidney transplantation, is required to survive.
As of 31 December 2025, national renal service figures show:
* 5,496 patients undergoing treatment for end-stage kidney disease
* 2,849 patients living with a functioning kidney transplant
* 351 patients receiving home dialysis
* 2,296 patients receiving in-centre haemodialysis
While in-centre haemodialysis is often the first treatment used for kidney failure, it can have a significant impact on patients' quality of life.
Professor Joe Eustace, HSE Clinical Lead for the National Renal Office, said: "Approximately 5,500 people in Ireland receive life-saving renal replacement therapy on an ongoing basis. Over half of these people have a functioning kidney transplant, which is the optimal way of treating kidney failure.
"We are pleased to say that growing numbers of patients are receiving dialysis at home. In 2025, more than 115,000 dialysis treatments took place in the home setting.
"This allows patients to spend less time travelling to and from hospital (over 100,000 journeys saved) and more time in their own homes and communities (over 190,000 fewer hours spent in hospital)."
Despite affecting 1 in 10 people, chronic kidney disease is often described as a silent disease because it typically has no early warning symptoms.
This World Kidney Day, the HSE is encouraging everyone to be aware of their risk factors, which include: diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, age over 50, family history of kidney disease.
Staff at the hospital in Tullamore are proud to support World Kidney Day and to work alongside the HSE National Renal Office to promote early detection, patient‑centred renal care, and improved outcomes for people living with kidney disease.